Octopuses are incredibly intelligent creatures and are considered to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates. They have been known to use tools, open jars, solve puzzles, and even mimic other animals.
Octopuses have over 2,000 suction cups on all eight arms. They use them to taste, grab, and smell things. Each sucker is equipped with thousands of tiny, highly specialized sensors called chemoreceptors that allow the octopus to taste and “feel” whatever they touch. These chemoreceptors are so sensitive that they can detect even subtle chemical changes in the water or on the surface of an object.
Octopuses are unique underwater critters that have eight arms, two eyes, and can grow to be up to six feet long. Their brains are highly developed and they have been found to have sophisticated problem-solving abilities, such as being able to open jars and solve mazes. They also have excellent camouflage skills that allow them to blend into their environment and hide from predators. Octopuses range in size from the giant Pacific octopus, which can weigh up to 150 pounds and measure 30 feet across, to the pygmy octopus, which is only about an inch long. They are carnivores and eat crabs, shrimp, fish, and other small marine animals. These animals live in a variety of habitats, including coral reefs, rocky surfaces, mudflats, or deep sea areas.
Octopuses Change Color and Shoot Ink To Avoid Predators
Octopuses are able to change color in order to camouflage themselves to hide from predators. Octopuses have thousands of cells in their skin called chromatophores that contain pigment allowing them this ability to blend in with their surroundings. When threatened, octopuses will spray ink that is made from melanin and is meant to confuse predators as the octopus swims away.
Octopuses Have 3 Hearts and 9 Brains
Octopuses have three hearts, two peripheral hearts, and a central heart. The two peripheral hearts pump the blood through the gills where it gains oxygen. The central heart then circulates the oxygenated blood throughout the body to fuel organs and muscles. Octopuses have blue blood due to the presence of copper in their hemocyanin, which carries oxygen throughout their bodies.
Octopuses have a central brain and then 8 mini-brains in each of their tentacles allowing each to operate independently.
Octopuses Have Violent Sex
Sometimes female octopuses will eat the males before they’re able to mate. Because of this, the male blanket octopus will mate from a distance with a detachable penis. They do this by ripping off their penis and leaving it with the female to use alone. After successful reproduction the male octopus will die within months. Females will watch over their eggs until they hatch and then die. Octopuses will die off by violently injuring themselves, practicing self-cannibalism, or allowing themselves to be attacked and eaten by predators.
The male octopus penis is actually a specialized arm called a hectocotylus, which is used to transfer sperm to the female via her mantle.
